An Improved Measure of Reading Skill: The Cognitive Structure Test.
Abstract
This study compared the construct validity and the predictive validity of a new test, called the Cognitive Structure Test, to multiple-choice tests of reading skill, namely the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery Paragraph Comprehension Test (ASVABpc) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) . To test the hypothesis that the Cognitive Structure Test is a better test of reading skill, 347 Air Force recruits read 16 technical and scientific passages (8 from the ASVABpc and 8 from the SAT) and took both multiple-choice and Cognitive Structure tests on the passages. For each passage the recruits' Cognitive Structure Test responses were compared to the responses of two experts who also read the passage and took the Cognitive Structure Tests (a total of 32 experts) . These experts also took the multiple-choice tests. Results indicated that the two tests measured very similar constructs and had similar reliability (Chronbach's Alpha) ratings (Cognitive Structure Test, .63; Multiple- choice test, .68) Results showed that the Cognitive Structure Test was superior to the multiple-choice tests in predicting final Technical School grade point averages for the recruits, and equivalent to the multiple-choice tests in predicting the ASVAB vocational and general science tests, and general knowledge tests. For the ASVAB passages, the Cognitive Structure Test predicted the final Techschool scores, but the multiple-choice test did not. Both tests predicted domain specific knowledge and general ability.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA331166
Entities
People
- Bruce Britton
- Robert Sorrells
Organizations
- University of Georgia